FORMER CATCHER JOINS THE MIDWEST SLIDERS

Jun 17, 2009

Former Texas
A&M-Corpus Christi Islander catcher Stephen Flora has signed
professionally with the Midwest Sliders (
Ypsilanti, Mich.) of the independent Frontier League.

"One of the big
reasons guys like to play at the Division I level is open the doors
for themselves as professionals," said Islander head coach Scott
Malone. "We had kept our fingers crossed that a major league team
would come calling after the draft, but that didn't happen. We were
able to use our connections to help him catch on with an
established league."

Flora was a
two-year starter for the Islanders behind the plate. He hit .380 in
his first season in the Coastal Bend earning Southland Conference
Newcomer of the Year honors. As a senior, the right-handed backstop
led the team with 41 runs scored and tied for the lead with 43 runs
batted in. Flora was second on the team with a career-best nine
home runs and third with a .309 batting average earning honorable
mention All-Southland Conference honors. He entered the season on
the Johnny Bench Award Watch list for the nation's top
catchers.

A solid summer
could help Flora take the next step.

"If he plays
well in a respected league for the Sliders he may turn change some
minds of the scouts," said Malone. "I think he will swing the wood
bat well and play solid defense. If it doesn't work, he is on pace
to graduate next year and has done a good job of covering all his
bases. He is a mature young who is a great ambassador for our
program. I am very excited he is getting this chance."